Country-based Pooled Funds (CBPF)

CBPFs are multi-donor humanitarian financing instruments established by the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC). They are managed by OCHA at the country-level under the leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC). Donor contributions to each CBPF are un-earmarked and allocated by the HC through an in-country consultative process.

OCHA has managed CBPFs since 1995, when the first Emergency Response Fund (ERF) was established in Angola. Since then, CBPFs have been established in more than 20 countries. As of 2015, CBPFs operate in 17 countries.

How do CBPFs work?

CBPFs allocate funding based on identified humanitarian needs and priorities at the country level in line with the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC). Allocations go to UN agencies and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and Red Cross/Red Crescent organizations. To avoid duplication and ensure a complementary use of available CBPF funding, allocations are made taking into account other funding sources, including bilateral contributions. Four principles underpin the use of CBPFs:

Flexibility. The programmatic focus and funding priorities of CBPFs are set at the country level and may shift rapidly, especially in volatile humanitarian contexts. CBPFs are able to adapt rapidly to changing priorities and allow humanitarian partners to identify appropriate solutions to address humanitarian needs in the most effective way.